Edited by Rob Potter
LAKE CHAMPLAIN — August 2, 2005 – The New York State B.A.S.S. Chapter Federation held its second points event of the year on Sunday, July 17.
The contest, which was held on Lake Champlain, drew 136 anglers from 34 different B.A.S.S.- affiliated clubs around the state.
Several members of 1st Bassmasters of Sullivan County competed in the event and and represented themselves in fine fashion with all five of them catching the weight limit of bass. Those club members were Scott Caravella, Ollie Cutler, Richard Kappes, Mike Kreloff and Don Murray.
Kappes, who joined 1st Bassmasters of Sullivan County in the middle of the 2003 season, has steadily improved his performances in club events. Last year, while fishing as an alternate for 1st Bassmasters six-man team at the New York State Federation event, Richard weighed in over 14 lbs. of bass, which was the third highest weight for the club. This season, he decided to try moving up to the state level, and in only his second state tournament, Kappes weighed in four Smallmouth and a 5 lb. Largemouth for an event-winning total of 16 lbs., 8 oz.
Kappes’ accomplishment was made even more impressive because he produced his winning “bag” fishing as a “Non-boater” out of the back of someone else’s boat. Fishing from the back normally puts that angler at a disadvantage because the person at the front of the boat gets to cast to new water first.
Additionally, 1st Bassmasters top three members had a combined weight of 41.47 lbs., which was the highest total weight for any club represented at the event.
The 1st Bassmasters members placement in the final standings, along with the total weight of the fish they caught, was as follows:
1. Richard Kappes, 16.80 lbs.
14. Ollie Cutler, 13.82 lbs.
40. Mike Kreloff, 10.85 lbs.
63. Don Murray, 8.73 lbs.
102. Scott Caravella, 5.78 lbs.